The word ‘boss’ seemingly appears to convey
the meaning that one is the ruler, and the other,
ruled. But Qawwam has a different meaning.
Qawwam refers to administration, rather than
‘ruling’, or being ‘superior’ to a woman.
Today, the concept of ‘boss’ or ‘bossism’ is
widely known. We can understand the concept
of Qawwamiat with this example. Qawwamiat
means that a man is the head of the family, just
as there is a head in an institution or a company.
This ‘head’ or ‘boss’ runs the administration of
the company, but this does not mean that he ‘rules’
it. The common adage goes, “The Boss is always
right.” This does not mean that the Boss is
superior, but that for an organization to function
successfully, someone with authority and
responsibility is needed at its helm.
Similarly, a home is also an institution. And
likewise, a head or a boss is required to run this
institution successfully. It is in this regard that the
Qur ’an has called man a qawwam.
The Qawwam of any home has the position
of a manager or an administrator, standing above
members of equal position. Ahome could become
a prey to anarchy if this principle were not
accepted.
14
Family Life
